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Refugees face a substantially higher risk of psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia, compared to non-refugee migrants from the same regions of origin, finds a study published in The BMJ.
Refugees are known to be at an increased risk of mental health problems, such as post traumatic stress disorder and common mental disorders, compared to non-refugee migrants, but little is known about their risk of psychosis.
One possible explanation is "that a larger proportion of sub-Saharan Africa immigrants will have been exposed to deleterious psychosocial adversities before emigration, irrespective of refugee status," suggest the authors.
Alternatively, it's also possible that "post-migratory factors, such as discrimination, racism, and social exclusion" may explain these high rates.
Category(s):Other, Schizophrenia
Source material from The BMJ
